& Abstract e role of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) in the onset of Hodgkin's lymphoma has been a subject

of ongoing research. However, confi rmation of EBV oncogenic involvement was not possible due to the small number of neoplastic cells characteristic for this type of tumor. Presence of EBV infection in neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells was analyzed in  cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma. In neoplastic cells, using an immunohistochemical method, latent membrane protein  (LMP) was found in , of cases, while in situ hybridization results demonstrat- ed the presence of EBER RNA in , of the cases. EBER RNA was found in non-neoplastic lymphocytes in , of cases. EBV is most frequently associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma in the fi rst and seventh decade of life, specifi cally the nodular sclerosis subtype. No apparent diff erence was observed in the association of Hodgin's lymphoma with EBV between genders, or in relation to clinical stage of the disease and average age of the patient. However, asso- ciation with childhood age is signifi cantly greater in comparison to adults. EBV associated disease shows a signifi cantly greater prevalence in T lymphocytes. Slightly more abundant are cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which are also more frequently in contact with Reed-Sternberg cells, although there is no diff erence in number and positioning of histiocytes. Variations between the data on the association of EBV with Hodgkin's lymphoma among studies from diff erent parts of the world suggest that factors of age, gender, ethnic background and social status might present biological modifi ers of EBV infl uence on the pathogenesis of this neoplasm. Th e diff erences in non-neoplastic infi ltrate EBV+ and EBV- lymphoma indicate the eff ect of the virus on the immune interaction of tumor and host in this disease.